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TNPSC Current Affairs and GK: April 22nd - 25th, 2017 (English)

TNPSC Current Affairs and GK: April 22nd - 25th, 2017 (English)

TNPSC Daily Current Affairs and GK April 22-25, 2017 (English). This covers International Affairs, National Affairs, State Affairs, Sports Affairs, Awards and Prizes and Important Days.

International Affairs

Athens, Greece designated UNESCO World Book Capital 2018

Athens, the capital of Greece, has been designated as the UNESCO World Book Capital 2018 by Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, in Paris. The city of Athens was chosen for the quality of its activities, supported by the entire book industry. The proposed activity programme includes meetings with writers, translators and illustrators, concerts, thematic exhibitions, poetry readings and workshops for publishing professionals. Athens is the 18th city to become World Book Capital. At present, Conakry (the capital of the Republic of Guinea) is the World Book Capital for 2017.

India and France's Joint Naval Exercise "Varuna" Started

The Indian Navy has began a joint maritime exercise with the French Navy at the Mediterranean Sea to further deepen combat coordination between the two navies. Bilateral exercises such as 'Garuda', 'Shakti' and 'Varuna' have been a regular feature between the two nations.

INS Aditya: Guided missile destroyer INS Mumbai, stealth frigate INS Trishul and fleet tanker INS Aditya are taking part in the "Varuna" exercise which will continue till April 30.The 'Varuna' series of exercises began in 2000 and have grown into an institutionalised form of interaction between the two navies.

The first-ever India Indonesia Energy Forum (IIEF) was held in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 20, 2017. The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines Piyush Goyal and Indonesia Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan participated in the forum.

Seoul, South Korea will host 15th edition of International Musculoskeletal Congress (IMC)-2017

The 15th edition of WFH International Musculoskeletal Congress (IMC) will be held in Seoul, South Korea from May 5-7, 2017, which is been organized by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) and the Korea Hemophilia Foundation.

National Affairs

Indian Railways to set up solar power plant in Bhilai (Chhattisgarh)

The Indian Railways is going to set up a solar power plant in Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), where it has spare land, through Railway Energy Management Company Limited (REMCL).The project cost of the 50 MW plant is estimated at Rs 200 crore. Of the total cost, 20 per cent will be borne by the Railways, while the remaining 80 per cent will be raised through debt.

India to export mangoes to Australia for the first time

India may export mangoes that meet biosecurity standards to Australia for the first time following revision of protocols to allow them in the Australian economy.

Sipri Statistis says, World's Fifth Largest Military spender is India

India's military expenditure grew around 8.5 per cent in 2016, making it the world's fifth largest spender at $55.9 billion.According to figures by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), India spent $55.9 billion on its military in 2016. US remains the world's largest military spender registering a growth of 1.7 per cent between 2015 and 2016 to $611 billion. China was second largest spender in 2016. The third largest military spender was Russia Saudi Arabia dropped to fourth position in 2016 from third in 2015.

BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile test fired

Indian Navy successfully undertook the firing of BrahMos Land Attack Supersonic Cruise Missile from a ship. This variant of Long Range BrahMos Missile was fired from Indian Naval Ship Teg, a Guided Missile Frigate, on a target on land. BrahMos Missile has been jointly developed by India and Russia, and its Anti Ship variant has already been inducted into Indian Navy.

India’s first-ever “Village of Books” will open in Bhilar, Maharashtra to promote tourism

India’s first-ever ‘village of books’ will open at Bhilar village in Maharashtra on May 4, 2017 to promote tourism and Marathi language. The village is roughly 8 km away from the hill station of Panchgani.

The Odisha government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with the objectives of improving the lives of smallholder farmers and promoting inclusive agricultural transformation.

2017 United Nations Oceans Conference will be held in New York

The high-level UN Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (or UN Ocean Conference) will be co-hosted by the Governments of Fiji and Sweden at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States from 5 to 9 June 2017 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. The theme of the Conference is ‘Our oceans, our future: partnering for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14’.

Maharashtra Government signed MoU with Indian Railways to expand green cover

In a bid to expand the green cover, the Maharashtra government recently signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Railways, under which trees will be planted on the land adjacent to the railway tracks in the state.

Rafael Nadal, a Spanish professional tennis player, has won the Men’s Singles title of Monte Carlo Masters Tennis tournament by defeating Albert Vinolas by 6-1, 6-3 at a summit clash in Monaco.

National Youth Athletes Hyderabad 2017: Haryana Champion

Haryana emerged champion beating Kerala at the National Youth Athletics Meet. Kerala was at the top place for the last five years. Haryana emerged champions with 166.5 points. Kerala has finished as the runners-up. However, Kerala managed to retain the team crown for girls while Haryana boys topped and won the boys’ title.

Video gaming included as a full sport at the 2022 Asian Games

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) will feature Video gaming as a full sport at the 2022 Asian Games. According to OCA, the decision to include e-sports was taken to reflect “the rapid development and popularity of this new form of sports participation among the youth.” Hence, e-sports would be introduced as a medal sport to the official program of the Asian Games at Hangzhou, China.

PV Sindhu ranked No. 3 in latest BWF Rankings

Indian Ace shuttler PV Sindhu has been ranked No. 3 in the latest BWF ranking. Sindhu who was at No.5 climbed up two places on the basis of making the quarter-finals of the recently-concluded Singapore Open Super Series. Sindhu’s career best is when she reached World No. 2 two weeks ago.

Awards and Prizes

Prafulla Samantra won the 2017 Goldman Environmental Prize

Prafulla Samantra, an iconic leader of social justice movements in India, the Goldman Environmental Prize for his historic 12-year legal battle that affirmed the indigenous Dongria Kondh’s land rights and protected the Niyamgiri Hills from a massive, open-pit aluminum ore mine.

Goldman Environmental Prize: The Goldman Environmental Prize is a prize awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists, one from each of the world's six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America.

Actor K. Viswanath wins the Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2016

Renowned Film Director & Actor Shri Kasinadhuni Viswanath is to be conferred the 48th Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the year 2016.The Award is conferred by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema.The Award consists of a Swarn Kamal (Golden Lotus), a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakhs and a shawl. Last year it was given to veteran actor and director Manoj Kumar.

Madhya Pradesh awarded with Krishi Karman Award for 2015-16 for wheat production

Madhya Pradesh will be awarded with the Union Government’s Krishi Karman Award for 2015-16 for wheat production. It is the fifth consecutive year that Madhya Pradesh will be conferred with the prestigious Krishi Karman Award. MP wheat production in 2015-16 stood at 184.10 lakh tonnes as against 171.03 lakh tonnes in 2014-15, a rise of 7.64%.

Yes Bank has won the prestigious 2017 Golden Peacock Innovative Product / Service Award (GPIPSA) at the 27th World Congress at the Dubai Global Convention in Dubai, UAE.

SSP Chawrasia, Aditi Ashok wins Golf Industry Awards (GIA)

SSP Chawrasia and Aditi Ashok were among the winners at the second Golf Industry Association (GIA) Awards.Aditi bagged Outstanding Achievement as a Player award.Chawrasia bagged the Award for the Men's Player of the Year.

Golden Peacock Award: The Golden Peacock Awards were established by the Institute of Directors (IOD) in India in 1991. They are now acknowledged as a benchmark of corporate excellence worldwide.

Important Days

World Malaria Day is observed on April 25, 2017

World Malaria Day is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control. 2017 year’s global theme for World Malaria Day is "End Malaria for Good."

National Panchayati Raj Diwas is celebrated on April 24, 2017 in India

The National Panchayati Raj Diwas is celebrated every year on April 24 across India to mark the passing of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 that came into force with effect from 24 April 1993. The Panchayat Raj system was first adopted by the state of Rajasthan in Nagaur district on 2nd Oct 1959.The second state was Andhra Pradesh.

International Earth Day (IED) Observed on April 22 2017

The International Earth Day (IED) is observed every year all over the world on April 22 with the message to protect environment. The day is celebrated worldwide to raise awareness among people that they have a collective responsibility to promote harmony with nature and to balance the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations. The campaign theme for 2017 is “Environmental and Climate Literacy”.